Your diet can have a direct impact on the health of your skin either positively or negatively. While most diet plans are tailored to keep you slim and healthy, a very strict one might not offer the required nourishment to your skin.
Nevertheless, any healthy diet will do more good than harm to your skin while at the same time helps keep the extra pounds at bay. Whatever you consume can have the same impact as what you slather on your skin.
So, if you’re wondering, how does diet affect your skin tone, let’s have a look at the benefits and pitfalls of some of the most popular diets. Of course, it’s time to give some focus to what you eat in your skin care regime.
1. Gluten-Free Diet
Diet affects your skin tone in many ways than you think. If you suffer from celiac disease, you may experience severe intolerance to gluten, a form of protein. You should stick to a diet devoid of barley, wheat and rye, but some people adapt to gluten although they are allergic.
In reference to Alicia Zalka, M.D., an affiliate dermatologist, there is an association between gluten intake and skin rash in people with celiac disease.
Even if you don’t suffer from this condition, you can alleviate acne by consuming a gluten-free diet. However, if you choose to skip gluten, constantly keep checking with your doctor to find out if your skin is getting the right nutrients.
2. Skipping Carbohydrates
If you’re wondering when and how does diet affect your skin tone, it is subtle changes that would make a huge difference. A diet that contains no carbohydrates compels your body to break down stored fat for energy production. The good side of such a diet is that it can limit sugar levels and inflammation, which contributes to wrinkles and premature aging of your skin.
On the flipside, you can’t remain naturally beautiful unless you create a balance in your diet. Although the changes may not occur instantly, you might experience dramatic changes after sometime.
Dr. Zalka says she has witnessed patients suffering from hair loss simply by adopting a restrictive diet. She recommends that people should switch from refined carbohydrates to whole grains.
3. The Paleo Diet
If you are on a Paleo diet, you are only supposed to eat like the caveman. The meal doesn’t allow refined sugars, processed food or dairy. You depend on fish, meat, vegetables, fruits and nuts.
The advantage of such a diet is that it yields to a clearer skin. Studies have shown a strong connection between dairy and skin blemishes. Milk contains hormones which play a role in the production of pore-clogging sebum.
Scientists also believe that carbohydrates can cause an increase in insulin levels and inflammation, both which trigger breakouts. Dr. Zalk says you may not find the effect if you don’t take it to the extreme but doing it in moderation is the best way to go.
Many who are not aware about how diet affects your skin tone make a misinformed choice. Consider a diet plan only if it suits your body type and do not follow something simply because it is trending.
4. Detox Juice
There are several juices out there promising to cleanse and detoxify your body. While detoxification can be beneficial to your overall wellbeing including that of your skin, taking it to extreme can be disastrous.
Health experts recommend that you should detoxify your body after some time—possibly after the holiday season. During the holiday season, many ignore how diet affects your skin tone, indulging in calorie-rich and sugary foods, which cause your skin to suffer too.
You should entirely rely on fruits and vegetables in liquid form. These juices are rich in antioxidants to fight free chemicals, essential for a youthful skin that is less damaged. However, nutritionists claim that short-term detox diets don’t substitute long-term eating habits. And that restrictive diet often leads to binge eating, which can lead to weight gain and skin breakouts.
5. Uncooked Foods
There are some people who believe that foods are most nutritious when consumed raw or uncooked. Their diet does not contain processed sauces, soup or meat. However, there are some who follow an omnivorous diet.
The beauty benefits of such a diet are that they have plenty of Vitamins and minerals, which often become altered by heat. Dr Zalka says that studies have found out that Vitamin C, commonly found in most fruits and vegetables, is beneficial to your skin as it fosters a brighter, young-looking complexion.
But still there are other foods that thrive under heat. For instance, tomatoes release more lycopene when heated. This compound helps prevent skin cancer. The flipside of a raw diet is that most consumers prefer dehydrated foods.
These often dry out the skin making it more prone to wrinkles or under eye circles. In addition, your hair may not grow thick and full enough if you are on such a diet. Stay hydrated throughout if you opt to stick with such a diet.
Foods to Improve Skin Tone
Including healthy foods should be a key step in your skin care regime. Plenty of veggies, nuts, and seeds are required when it comes to getting that beautiful glow on your face. These foods help in enhancing the skin tone.
The thumb rule is simple, the more you consume healthy food, the higher the glow on your skin. Consumption of unhealthy foods such as fast foods, sugary drinks, etc. may cause your skin to break out. If you’re charting out an effective diet plan for your skin tone, try these foods:
Foods to Improve Skin Tone
- Healthy carbs such as oats and millets
- Fish such as cod and salmon
- Seasonal, local, and fresh fruits
- Eggs
- Leafy vegetables
Veggies Give Skin a Glow
Often when you’re wondering “how does diet affect your skin tone”, we ignore the unsung heroes, i.e., veggies. The veggie glow is quite real and many have vouched for a fabulous outcome. Green leafy vegetables such as spinach help in making the skin glowy.
They include lutein and zeaxanthin, which are useful in keeping the skin hydrated and supple. Yellow and orange colored veggies such as carrots and apricots help make a huge difference.
It contains “carotenoids”, which can give you that much desired, attractive skin tone. These colourful veggies contain Vitamin C, which is useful in building collagen and maintaining a youthful skin.
Conclusion
So, if you’re wondering – Can your diet affect your skin tone? The answer is yes, your diet is affecting your skin and overall health, in many ways than you can estimate. If you are on an extremely restrictive diet, you are depriving your skin the proper nourishment it deserves to glow and radiate.
You could also be altering other functions in the body essential for the health of your skin. If you choose to start dieting, look for a meal plan that will create a balance for your overall wellbeing and your skin as well. Neither a strict diet nor unhealthy eating is good for your skin. Ensure you get the right nutrients in an adequate amount if your goal is to maintain a youthful and attractive skin.
While drawing up your diet plan for improving your skin tone, do not forget to include plenty of water, at-least seven to eight glasses every day, in your skin care routine.
